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Discussion of Art - Realism

To skip the video, here is the painting in question:

There are countless people out there saying that this has little value as art, because it's essentially like being a human camera. Some even devalue it even more so because it's painted from reference, and not from memory.

This is one of the times where I want to throw away the idea of, "everyone is entitled to their own opinions," and just want to say, "you're wrong." It irritates me to no end to hear that kind of elitist mindset; I don't even feel the need to prove the skill level demonstrated. To downplay that kind of mastery because it doesn't fit in the "normal" category of art is arrogant and narrow minded.

Thoughts? Perhaps I'm just being egotistical myself, but this is something that really strikes a chord in me.

"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." -Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I appreciate this as art. I think that you have a scale with pure abstract on one side and pure realism on the other, all art is going to be somewhere on the scale. Robin Eley seems to see things far to the realism side. Discrediting this as art purely on the level of realism is ridiculous and does not take into account many other things, like composition, color, shadow. I would really like to see one of these paintings in person,

Because I find my eyes following the geometry of the woman, floor and walls something artistic must be going on. The artist's photo realistic technical ability adds a texture -I guess that's what you'd call it- that a photograph wouldn't capture.

The fact the woman's covered in plastic, I don't get so much, but I like her expression and how she appears comfortable. Pretty incredible piece but not something I'd put on my wall.

Devin, I fully appreciate it but have the artistic skills of a square of sod.

"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough." —Mark Twain

After 20 years of these kinds of discussions with wife (she studied art in college) my conclusion is that art is concept as much (or more) as execution--this is why, sometimes, only the first person to do something can make it art.

If this concept makes sense to you, then it's art...to you. There's no reason we all should have the same answer...we can have different answers and still all be right b/c it's personal.

Originally Posted by mano

The fact the woman's covered in plastic, I don't get so much, but I like her expression and how she appears comfortable. Pretty incredible piece but not something I'd put on my wall.